FAQs for Rates and Service Options

How will I be notified of a Critical Day?Nicor Gas will post a notice on the company's electronic bulletin board and on a recorded dial-in message (1-630-983-4040, Option 3) at least 25 hours before the start of the Critical Day. When a Critical Day occurs, you can change your nominations until 8 a.m., one hour before the start of the Critical Day.

How will I be notified of an Operational Flow Order (OFO)?Nicor Gas will post a notice on the company's electronic bulletin board and on a recorded dial-in message (1-630-983-4040, Option 3). Customers and Suppliers will be notified of any OFO at least two hours before the Gas Industry Standards Board nomination deadline on the interstate pipelines with the company's facilities.

Is there a limit to the Firm Backup Service selection?No, but most customers don't need to select more than 52 percent of their MDCQ as FBS if they have elected 28 days of SBS prior to June 1, 2009. After June 1, 2009, 53 percent of peak use can be satisfied through SBS withdrawal rights, assuming an SWF of 1.0. As such, most customers won't need to select more than 47 percent of their MDCQ as FBS, assuming an election of 31 days of SBS.

How much company-supplied gas is available to me on a Critical Day?In addition to FBS, company supplies are available under SBS. If you have less gas in storage than your withdrawal rights stipulate, the company will supply the difference as Authorized Use. Any gas used in excess of these quantities will be Unauthorized Use and are subject to the $6.00 per therm charge.

How will my Maximum Daily Contract Quantity (MDCQ) be determined?The MDCQ will be the greater of the highest daily therm use from the previous year or the result of a regression analysis to a peak day on the previous year's winter use. The MDCQ is subject to Nicor Gas' approval. If daily information is not available, the following formula applies:(Peak Billing Period Therms x 30) / (Billing Period Days x 21)

When will the MDCQ be determined?Nicor Gas determines a customer's MDCQ each year based on the previous calendar year. The customer is notified by April 1 of their new MDCQ that becomes effective June 1. If the "new" MDCQ is within five percent of the current MDCQ, no change will be made.

What if my gas in storage exceeds my storage bank capacity?A fee of 10 cents per therm will be charged monthly for every therm in storage in excess of your storage bank capacity. For customers who are monitored daily under an unbundled transportation rate, the excess storage fee is based on the maximum number of therms over their bank capacity in that billing period. If the excess amount is less than 5 percent of the SBS capacity, no charges will be assessed.